Some people claim that Islam does not encourage women to be educated. This is a biased, unfounded allegation against Islam.

Indeed, there is no religion or doctrine on earth that encourages man to seek knowledge as much as Islam.

Islam strongly encourages humans, both men and women, to acquire knowledge in all fields of life, as well as to research and reach the facts.

Islam defines knowledge to be the correct way to know Allah, the Almighty, have belief in Him, and surrender to His Shari`ah. Were not the first verses revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) a strong declaration of this fact? The first verses that were revealed to the Prophet are those in which Allah addressed His Messenger saying,

Recite in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous, Who taught by the pen, Taught man that which he knew not. (Al-`Alaq 96: 1-5)

Women’s Education in Islam

This is a command to recite in the Name of the Creator who created humans, both men and women, from a clinging substance.

This refers to the fact that the creation of Allah (glory be to Him) is the field for humans to seek knowledge, and that this will guide them to the way of Allah.

Researching what Allah created is the closest and best way for the seekers of knowledge and the pursuers of the truth, wherever they may be and in whichever scientific field they may be engaged.

The revelation began with a command to read, because reading is the most important means of consolidating knowledge and continuing with it.

Reading comes after writing, which is why Allah displayed His favor upon His Slaves since He taught humans to write with the pen which is the greatest tool of writing. This means that Allah, the Almighty, has taught all humans, male and female.

This call with which Allah invites humans to seek knowledge and establish sciences, since the very beginning of Islam, is the greatest evidence that Islam equally urges man and woman to pursue knowledge, ponder on the creation of Allah and use the two correlated means of knowledge; namely, reading and writing.

Knowledge is the way to know Allah, have faith in Him and know the rulings of the religious obligations for both men and women.

It is a must for every Muslim man and woman to learn all that guides him or her to know the teachings and ordinances of their religion that each of them has to abide by, because each man and woman will be individually reckoned for their acts before Allah, the Almighty.

Humans, both men and women, are tried in this life. Each one is fully responsible for his actions as long as he or she is competent, and as long as he or she possesses reason, will and ability.

Since humans are responsible for their actions, they are obligated to acquire all that will enable them to distinguish between truth and falsehood, goodness and evil, benefit and harm, and to know the boundaries of his responsibility before Allah, the Almighty.

A look at the reality of life shows us how important it is for a woman to be upright, knowledgeable, and well-mannered, for the benefit of her family, children and husband.

The woman’s uprightness is more important for the family than the man’s uprightness, because the woman plays an effective role in the formation of manners, principles and habits in young children more than the man.

Thus, it is safe to say that the extent of a woman’s uprightness or corruption determines the extent of the uprightness or corruption of the society.

Allah, the Almighty, has endowed woman with flowing sentiment, a lenient disposition and an ability to be involved and take part in the life of children in accordance with their mentality and nature. This makes her acquire the children’s love and confidence, so they imitate her behavior and all that she says or does.

____________________________

Source: www.islamstory.com.

[opic_orginalurl]